Hull KR ran out comfortable winners against Bradford.
Hull KR winger Joe Burgess runs in for the first try. (Image: SW PIX)
Hull KR sit fourth in the Super League table this Friday night, with the Robins running out comfortable 40-16 winners over Bradford Bulls at Craven Park.
Scoring seven tries, Wille Peters’ outfit will finish the round inside the play-off positions, with the side having too much quality for the Bulls in what ended up being a routine win.
Athletic winger Joe Burgess scored two tries to take his career tally up to 200, 62 of which have come for the Robins, while Jez Litten again starred with another influential display.
The Hull KR hooker stepped up when his side needed him the most, following on from his derby heroics last week.
As for depleted Bradford, they showed spirit, but ultimately, it was Rovers who got the job done – and, truth be told, they were far from their best.
But as the old adage goes, that’s a sign of a good side, and the Robins can enjoy another two points with seven regular-season games to go. Their destiny remains in their own hands – with some big games coming up over the next two months.
Targeting a strong home performance, Peters made two changes to his side, with Ryan Hampshire in at half-back in place of the injured Arthur Mourgue and Rhyse Martin taking his place on the bench. Jesse Sue made way.
The Robins started fast and opened the scoring through Burgess, with the winger outpacing the Bradford defence out wide to finish for his 199th career try.
But Rovers then gifted field position to Bradford as Litten kicked out on the full, and they then made another mistake on their goal line as Jack Broadbent spilt Joe Mellor’s kick and Guy Armitage dived on the loose ball to level the scores.
Broadbent soon made amends, restoring the home side’s lead after taking Hadley’s offload to score. And things opened up more as Tyrone May broke down the East Stand touchline before stepping his way to the line for a silky long-range try.
However, Bradford hung in there, with Connor Wynne sprinting the length of the field after taking Hampshire’s kick to score.
Typically of the Bull’s season, Wynne limped off soon after, with the visitors also doing it tough as Phoenix Steinwede suffered a head knock. They still managed to frustrate Rovers, who were restricted to a six-point lead at half-time.
But the Robins started the second half well and soon got their reward as Burgess went in for career try number 200, walking over the line after a delicious Hampshire pass.
They were then home and dry as Litten got on the end of another sweeping move, with May instrumental again as Rovers carved Bradford’s left edge up.
Peta Hiku then produced a classy offload for Tom Davies to score in the corner, with Rovers pulling away in a ruthless period. They couldn’t sustain that clinical edge as the second half wore on, but the damage was already done.
Bradford then got a consolation try through Andy Ackers, who scampered over from dummy-half, but the tide turned again late on as Litten broke through before offloading to former Bulls forward Elliot Minchella to score under the posts for the final try. Game, set, and match, Hull Kingston Rovers.
Teams
Rovers Starting XIII: 14. Jack Broadbent; 2. Tom Davies, 3. Peta Hiku, 4. Oliver Gildart, 5. Joe Burgess; 34. Ryan Hampshire, 7. Tyrone May; 11. Dean Hadley, 9. Jez Litten, 10. Tom Amone; 16. Jai Whitbread, 12. James Batchelor; 13. Elliot Minchella
Interchange: 15. Sam Luckley, 17. Rhyse Martin, 19. Karl Lawton, 20. Jordan Dezaria. 18th Man: 22. Bill Leyland
Bradford Starting XIII: 1. Caleb Aekins; 23. Connor Wynne, 22. Luke Hooley, 24. Guy Armitage, 5. Ethan Ryan; 38, Riley Dean, 32. Chris Atkin; 8. Ryan Sutton, 9. Andy Ackers, 19. Will Gardiner; 34. Phoenix Steinwede, 12. Zac Fulton; 13. Joe Mellor
Interchange: 39. Thomas Doyle, 28. Jamie Gill, 27. Alfie Leake, 10. Loghan Lewis. 18th Man: 25. Elliot Peposhi
Scorers
Rovers Tries: Burgess 2, Broadbent, May, Litten, Davies, Minchella. Goals: Hampshire 3/4, Martin 3/3
Bradford Tries: Armitage, Wynne, Ackers. Goals: Hooley 2/3
Scoring System: 4-0, 4-4, 10-4, 16-4, 16-10, HT, 22-10, 28-10, 34-10, 34-16, 40-16, FT
Referee: Tom Grant. Video Referee: Jack Smith
Attendance: TBC